Stop climate change: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Problems]] __NOTOC__
[[File:Emissions-by-sector-–-pie-charts.png|thumb]]
[[File:Emissions-by-sector-–-pie-charts.png|thumb|GHGs (greenhouse gases, such as '''CO<sub>2</sub>''') are the gases that cause climate change. '''This is a pie chart of where they come from.'''<br /><br /><br />Note that a large chunk of emissions are a function of how much new '''"stuff" people buy''': ''See sections: "manufacturing", "transporting goods", "agriculture".'']]
Fossil fuels are still the world's main energy source, and still the main cause of climate change.
[[File:carbon-inequality1.png|thumb|Note that half of emissions come from the richest 10% of the world. This ''includes'' '''most people''' who live in developed countries.]]


Climate change is ''mostly'' caused by <span style="background:#FF02">'''burning fossil fuels for energy'''</span> - and to a lesser extent, by today's agriculture.
# We need to '''[[decarbonize the energy supply|switch to other energy sources]]''', but:
* <small>{{light|But note:}} Agriculture has [[deforestation|other major environmental impacts]] too, besides just climate change.</small>
# They each [[decarbonize the energy supply|have their own limitations and environmental impacts]] as well. So we also need to '''not use so much energy in the first place.''' Not the old "save energy by turning off the lights" rhetoric which misses the big picture. Most of the world's energy usage is actually for:
#* Producing & transporting goods (i.e. stuff people buy)
#* Driving cars
#* Heating & cooling homes / buildings


==Solutions we ultimately need {{fists}}==
==Things we must do==
===Reduce the need for driving===
* [[Make neighborhoods walkable]]
===Produce less stuff===
<!--{{preamble|(without sacrificing quality of life)}}-->
====Electronics====
* [[Right to repair]]
* [[Stop planned obsolescence]]
====Food-related====
<!--Because even though agriculture looks like a smaller piece of the pie, it has [[habitat loss|other environmental impacts beyond just climate change]]. We need to feed the world using less resources.-->
<small>Even though agriculture isn't the ''biggest'' source of carbon emissions, it '''is''' the biggest [[habitat loss|destroyer of wildlife]]. We need to feed the world using less resources:</small>
* [[Stop food waste]]
* [[Stop biofuels]]
* [[Make the food supply more plant-based]]
* [[Improve crop yields]] in some cases
====Other====
* [[Stop home waste]]
* [[Make clothes last longer]]? {{talk|Need to distinguish between "they should manufacture stuff better quality" (which might actually have a ''higher'' environmental footprint in some cases), vs "how make your clothes last longer even when they're cheap. Repair, take care, etc." (which is probably what we really need. Some of it is lifestyle choices, but I bet some systemic changes could help too, like better access to tools for repairs, and more education on how to use them).}}


* '''[[Decarbonize the energy supply|Replace ALL fossil fuel energy, with renewables and/or nuclear power]]'''
===Heating & cooling===
** [[Decarbonize the energy supply|Not technologically feasible, currently.]]
We're still discussing what solutions are really suitable for the average home or building. [[How much less energy could be used in heating & cooling buildings, in most cases?|Join the discussion.]]
*** Would be a lot more feasible if the ''demand'' for energy (and vehicles) was lower. This is quite viable, as long as people in {{t2|first-world|"first-world", for lack of a better terminology<br /><br />Talk: <small>I didn't want to say "developed countries" here, because a less experienced person reading quickly might mistake it for "developing countries" (which is the ''opposite'' of what I'm trying to convey). I also didn't want to say "rich countries" because some people might mistakenly think their country isn't rich enough for it to apply to them. So I'm stuck using an old, somewhat improper term: "first-world countries".</small>}} countries are willing to make some lifestyle changes:
**** '''[[We can still have nice things, just not replace them so often]]'''
**** '''[[Reduce the need for driving]]'''
* {{light|''Some'' lifestyle changes are still needed ''even if'' we phase out fossil fuels:}}
** '''[[Stop food waste]]'''
** '''[[Make the food supply more plant-based]]''' {{light|(does not ''require'' 100% veganism)}}
** {{rb|These are needed to prevent [[deforestation]]. ''[[Reduce the amount of land required to feed the world|See why]]''.}}


==Ongoing discussions==
==Note==
* [[How much less energy could be used in heating & cooling buildings, in most cases?]]
''Systemic changes'' might not be enough without some ''lifestyle changes''. A lot of middle-class people will still have to choose to consume less, in some ways.
{{talk|TO DO: Add specific examples of wasteful consumption habits. Talk about how to do better.}}
{{talk|Half of emissions come from the richest 10% of the world. This ''includes'' '''most people''' who live in "first world" countries.<br />[[Image:carbon-inequality1.png|link=]]}}
But it's not as bad as it sounds. We can still have nice things, just not replace them so often.


==Base knowledge==
Economic degrowth shouldn't reduce quality of life. It has to be done the right way. It can actually make our lives better by enabling us to [[shorten the work week and lower the cost of living|work less]].
<small>
{{minor|''Note: Some of these pages might not be written yet:''}}
* [[What is climate change]]
* [[Why climate change is a problem]]
* [[Why climate change is anthropogenic]]
</small>
 
==Next steps==
Start a discussion on where to go from here.
 
<comments />

Latest revision as of 15:23, 26 February 2026

Fossil fuels are still the world's main energy source, and still the main cause of climate change.

  1. We need to switch to other energy sources, but:
  2. They each have their own limitations and environmental impacts as well. So we also need to not use so much energy in the first place. Not the old "save energy by turning off the lights" rhetoric which misses the big picture. Most of the world's energy usage is actually for:
    • Producing & transporting goods (i.e. stuff people buy)
    • Driving cars
    • Heating & cooling homes / buildings

Things we must do

Reduce the need for driving

Produce less stuff

Electronics

Food-related

Even though agriculture isn't the biggest source of carbon emissions, it is the biggest destroyer of wildlife. We need to feed the world using less resources:

Other

  • Stop home waste
  • Make clothes last longer?  discussion Need to distinguish between "they should manufacture stuff better quality" (which might actually have a higher environmental footprint in some cases), vs "how make your clothes last longer even when they're cheap. Repair, take care, etc." (which is probably what we really need. Some of it is lifestyle choices, but I bet some systemic changes could help too, like better access to tools for repairs, and more education on how to use them).

Heating & cooling

We're still discussing what solutions are really suitable for the average home or building. Join the discussion.

Note

Systemic changes might not be enough without some lifestyle changes. A lot of middle-class people will still have to choose to consume less, in some ways.  discussion TO DO: Add specific examples of wasteful consumption habits. Talk about how to do better.  discussion Half of emissions come from the richest 10% of the world. This includes most people who live in "first world" countries.
 But it's not as bad as it sounds. We can still have nice things, just not replace them so often.

Economic degrowth shouldn't reduce quality of life. It has to be done the right way. It can actually make our lives better by enabling us to work less.

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